Device for applying creams and the like to the skin



R. E. HALL 3,088,470 DEVICE FOR APPLYING CREAMS AND THE LIKE TO THE SKIN May 7, 1963 Filed Oct. 27, 1960 Fig. 3

INVENTOR ROBERT E. HA LL BY MMW ATTORNEYS Stats This invention relates to devices for applying to the body of a person, creams and other preparations that should be handled with care or that the user may dislike to handle for various reasons in the application thereof to the skin.

The principal object of the invention is to provide an improved device of the indicated type which will enable the direct application of a relatively wide layer of the preparation to the skin and without the necessity of the user having to spread the preparation with the fingers or other means after it has been deposited by the device upon the skin.

Another object of the invention is to provide an improved device of the indicated type which will spread a material, such as a cosmetic cream, on the skin as a substantially uniform layer of substantial width and which may readily be manipulated to apply a very thin layer of the cream, or a relatively thick layer thereof.

A further object of the invention is to provide an improved device of the indicated type comprising a distributing member of simple, inexpensive construction that is readily assembled with any one of the squeeze containers now being packaged by various companies.

Other objects as well as the advantages of the device of this invention will become apparent to the perusal of the following description, when read in connection with the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is an exploded view showing in side elevation a squeeze tube and cover of known construction and a distributing member constructed in accordance with the invention;

FIG. 2 is an exploded perspective view of the distributing member and a cover for the discharge end thereof, the distributing member being viewed from below the position shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is another exploded perspective view of the parts shown in FIG. 2; this view of the distributing member being from above the position shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is a vertical sectional view taken through the longitudinal center of the distributing member; and

FIG. 5 is a sectional view of the distributing member taken along the line 5-5 of FIG. 4.

In the drawings, the reference numeral indicates generally a squeeze container in the form of a tube of the type usually employed in the packaging of cosmetic preparations such as hair remover cream and the like. The container may have any other suitable configuration and may be made of any suitable material such as polyethylene, thin metal, and the like. The tube 10 is provided with the usual externally threaded nozzle 11 to receive the detachable cap or cover 12 that is customarily employed to seal the tube.

When the material of the tube is to be applied to the skin, the cap 12 is replaced by a distributing member which is generally indicated in FIG. 1 of the drawings by the numeral 15 and which is packaged with the tube but in a separated, unassembled condition. The distributing member 15 is preferably made of an integral piece of suitable plastic material, such as polyethylene, but may be made of any other suitable material. The distributing member is composed of a generally crescent-shaped body portion 18 having a concave distributing edge 19 which is at the bottom of the body in the use of the member,

,ssam Patented May 7, 1963 and a top convex edge 20. The body portion 18 further is plate-like and has a front or outer face 21 and an inner face 22, the two faces being disposed in parallel relation and spaced apart a substantial distance, approximately one-quarter of an inch. Integral with the inner face 22 of the body portion is a cylindrically-shaped hub-like portion 16 which is provided at its outer end with an internal thread 17 adapted to threadedly receive the screw thread on the tube nozzle 11. Thus the distributing member as a whole is in the nature of a screw cap and is screwed onto the tube nozzle 11 in the manner of cap 12.

It will be noted more clearly in FIGS. 1 and 4 of the drawings, that the body portion 13, as a whole, is disposed at an angle of approximately degrees to the hub-like portion 16, as is indicated in FIG. 4. The distributing edge 19 of such body portion, on the other hand, is not disposed at right angles to the faces 21, 22 of such body portion, but is inclined thereto so that in transverse cross-section such edge is disposed at an angle of approximately thirty degrees to the longitudinal axis of portion 16 (note FIG. 4). Thus when the edge 19 is resting on the surface of the users skin, both the body portion 18 and the hub portion 16 will be inclined outwardly from such skin surface. The distributing edge 19 has a forwardly projecting edge portion 23 which substantially increases the width of such edge so that the total width of edge 19 is approximately three-eighths of an inch.

Formed within the body portion 18 is a flat chamber 25 having a shape conforming to that of such body portion, that is, substantially crescent-shaped, and having a substantially uniform width of approximately three sixty-fourths of an inch. A passageway 26 formed in the hub 16 connects with the chamber 25 adjacent to the central portion of the convex edge of such chamber, and brings such chamber into communication with the interior of the outer threaded portion of such hub. It will thus be seen that when the distributing member 15 is mounted on the tube 10 any material discharged from the latter will pass directly into the passageway 26 and will be conveyed by the latter to the chamber 25. Preferably the passageway 26 has a diameter at least equal to the diameter of the discharge passageway in the tube nozzle 11 so that the cosmetic material may pass freely from the latter into passageway 26.

Formed in the concaved edge portion of member 15 are a series of small, spaced, transverse passageways 27 which open at their inner ends in the concave Wall of chamber 25 and which open at their outer ends in the distributing edge 19 of such member. The passageways 27 are shown as evenly-spaced and are eleven in number. The diameters of the passageways are predetermined to provide an even flow of the type of cosmetic material to be distributed by a given member 15 throughout the entire length of the distributing edge 1%. For example, if the member 15 is designed to distribute a depilatory cream, the passageways 27 may be of progressively smaller diameter from the outer ends of the series thereof. Thus the end passageways in the series may have diameters substantially equalling the width of chamber 25 and the inner passageways progressively smaller diameters towards the center of the distributing edge 19. In such a construction, the diameters of the passageways may range from the width of chamber 25, to approximately V The outer three passageways at each end of the series may also be of substantially the same diameter while the inner passageways between such two end groups of larger passageways may all be of another smaller diameter. Any other arrangement of the diameters of the passageways may be selected depending upon the material to be distributed and the manner of its distribution.

It is believed that it will be understood from the foregoing that the several parts of the device will be packaged in one container, but with the distributing member 15 in unassembled condition. When the device is to be used, the cap 12 is unscrewed and removed from the tube nozzle '11 and the member 15 is screwed on such nozzle in its place. The distributing edge 19 of member 15 is then placed against the skin so that it is in substantially entire engagement with the latter. In this position of edge 19, member 15 and tube will be inclined to the surface of the skin, but the tube to a lesser extent, somewhat in the manner in which a rake is disposed when used to rake the ground. As the user moves the tube along the skin, she simultaneously presses on the tube 10 so that the cosmetic material in the latter will be exuded through the nozzle 11 thereof. The cosmetic material passes from nozzle 11 into passageway 26 of member 15 and is delivered into the chamber or reservoir 25. Under the pressure of the entering cosmetic material, the material already in chamber will be forced out through the series of passageways 27 and onto the skin. Because of the spacing and sizes of the passageways and the spreading action of the distributing edge 19, including the edge portion 23 thereof, the cosmetic material will be spread as a smooth, even layer on the skin throughout the entire length of such edge 19. By controlling the pressure of distributing edge 19 upon the skin and the angle at which such edge will be disposed to the skin about the outer edge of portion 23 thereof as a fulcrum, the thickness of the coating being applied to the skin can readily be controlled by the user.

After the desired amount of cosmetic material has been applied by the user, the distributing member 15 may be replaced by the cap 12, or may be left on the tube 10. In either case, the discharge passageways 27 thereof are preferably protected by a cover made of any suitable material such as plasitc. It is preferred that such a cover be constructed so that it will be attached to the member 15 with a snap action and will remain in interlocked condition on the latter until positively removed therefrom. A cover embodying the desired features is shown in FIGS. 2 and 3 of the drawings. The cover includes a covering wall 30 conforming in configuration to the configuration of the distributing edge 19 of member 15 so that it will seat snugly on such edge and close the outer discharge ends of the distributing passageways 27. 'Integral with the longitudinal edges of the wall 30 are flanges 31 formed to snugly fit on the outer edge of distributing edge portion 23 and the concave edge of the rear face 22 of member 15. The ends of flanges 31 are connected by end flanges 32 configured to fit snugly onto the outer ends of the distributing edge 19. It will be noted that the end flanges 32 are configured to curve over the ends of edge 10 so that such ends will be seated in end cavities 33 formed in such cover. As the distance between the outer edges of the end flanges 32 is slightly less than the distance between the ends of the edge 19, it is necessary that such flanges 32 be snapped over the ends of edge 19 in mounting the cover on member 15 and the' cover has sufficient inherent resiliency to permit this to be done. Once snapped in proper position on the member 15, the cover will remain locked on the latter with its covering wall 30 thereof maintained in snug engagement with distributing edge 19, until such cover is positively removed therefrom.

While I have hereinabove described and illustrated a preferred embodiment of my invention, it will be evident to those skilled in the art that various changes and modifications thereof may be made without departing from the spirit of the invention. Thus, instead of making the dis tributing edge of concave formation so as to conform more closely to the shape of the arms and legs of the user, such edge may be given other configurations depending upon the use for which it is partially designed. Thus,

the distributing edge may be given a straight, convex, or compound configuration if it is to be used primarily on the larger skin areas of thebody, or under the arms, or on the face of the user. Hence, I do not wish to limit myself to the particular construction illustrated, but intend to include all constructions coming within the scope of the appended claims.

I claim:

1. A device for spreading upon a persons body with a drawing action an even layer of depilatory cream from a squeezable package receptacle of the same, said device being constituted of a relatively rigid unit having a part adapted to be removably attached to such receptacle and provided with a passageway therethrough, a reservoir part connected to said attaching part and provided with a chamber in communication with the passageway in said attaching part, said reservoir part including a distributing edge portion having at its outer terminal end a skin engaging surface adapted to rest against a persons skin and being of given configuration and of substantial length, said distributing edge portion being provided with elongated means extending along the length thereof to bring the spin engaging surface of such edge portion into cream flow communication with said chamber and being of given dimensions to enable the depositing on the persons skin as said surface of said distributing edge portion of the device is being drawn therealong, sufiicient of the depilatory cream to form on the skin a covering layer of such cream and of a width comparable to the length of said elongated means, and a spreader part having a skin engaging surface disposed in substantially aligned relation with and forming a continuation of the skin engaging surface of said edge portion and positioned in following relation to the latter as said device is drawn over the persons skin, said spreader part being of substantial width and of a length at least as long as the length of the part of said edge portion provided with said elongated means so that as the device is drawn over a persons skin, the depilatory cream deposited on such skin just in front of said spreader part is smoothly redistributed on the skin by the skin engaging surface thereof as an even layer with a minimum of rubbing.

2. A distributing device such as defined in claim 1, in which said reservoir part is plate-like in configuration and said chamber extends over the major portion of the area of said plate-like reservoir part, in which said attaching part is connected to one face of said reservoir part so that it is disposed wholly to one side of said reservoir part with the passage thereof wholly contained within the area of said one side and disposed at an obtuse angle with the latter, and in which said spreader part projects from the other side of said reservoir part and is within the area of said other side.

3. A distributing device such as defined in claim 2, in which the spreading surface of said spreader part is disposed at an acute angle with the longitudinal axis of the passage through said attaching part.

4. A distributing device such as defined in claim 1, in which said elongated means is constituted of a series of spaced distributing passageways which extend through the lower end wall of said chamber, in which said chamber reduces in height from the center thereof towards the ends of said lower end wall, and in which said distributing passageways are variably shaped to provide an even flow of the depilatory cream on the users skin.

5. A distributing device such as defined in claim 1, including an elongated, shallow closure constructed to fit on and enclose said distributing edge portion and said projecting spreader part and to cover snugly the discharge side of said elongated means and the spreading surface of said spreader part.

6. A distributing device such as defined in claim 5, in which said closure is constructed to engage the ends of said distributing edge portion and said spreader part with References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Atwood July 19, 1932 Brynan July 16, 1935 Neas Oct. 4, 1949 6 Wilkerson Sept. 12, 1950 Sommers Mar. 10; 1953 Anderson Apr. 21, 1959 ONeil Mar. 29, 1960 Reggie Sept. 20, 1960 FOREIGN PATENTS France Feb. 9, 1959 

1. A DEVICE FOR SPREADING UPON A PERSON''S BODY WITH A DRAWING ACTION AN EVEN LAYER OF DEPILATORY CREAM FROM A SQUEEZABLE PACKAGE RECEPTACLE OF THE SAME, SAID DEVICE BEING CONSTITUTED OF A RELATIVELY RIGID UNIT HAVING A PART ADAPTED TO BE REMOVABLY ATTACHED TO SUCH RECEPTACLE AND PROVIDED WITH A PASSAGEWAY THERETHROUGH, A RESERVOIR PART CONNECTED TO SAID ATTACHING PART AND PROVIDED WITH A CHAMBER IN COMMUNICATION WITH THE PASSAGEWAY IN SAID ATTACHING PART, SAID RESERVOIR PART INCLUDING A DISTRIBUTING EDGE PORTION HAVING AT ITS OUTER TERMINAL END A SKIN ENGAGING SURFACE ADAPTED TO REST AGAINST A PERSON''S SKIN AND BEING OF GIVEN CONFIGURATION AND OF SUBSTANTIAL LENGTH, SAID DISTRIBUTING EDGE PORTION BEING PROVIDED WITH ELONGATED MEANS EXTENDING ALONG THE LENGTH THEREOF TO BRING THE SPIN ENGAGING SURFACE OF SUCH EDGE PORTION INTO CREAM FLOW COMMUNICATION WITH SAID CHAMBER AND BEING OF GIVEN DIMENSIONS TO ENABLE THE DEPOSING ON THE PERSON''S SKIN AS SAID SURFACE OF SAID DISTRIBUTING EDGE PORTION OF THE DEVICE IS BEING DRAWN THEREALONG, SUFFICIENT OF THE DEPILATORY CREAM TO FORM ON THE SKIN A COVERING LAYER OF SUCH CREAM AND OF A WIDTH COMPARABLE TO THE LENGTH OF SAID ELONGATED MEANS, AND A SPREADER PART HAVING A SKIN ENGAGING SURFACE DISPOSED IN SUBSTANTIALLY ALIGNED RELATION WITH AND FORMING A CONTINUATION OF THE SKIN ENGAGING SURFACE OF SAID EDGE PORTION AND POSITIONED IN FOLLOWING RELATION TO THE LATTER AS SAID DEVICE IS DRAWN OVER THE PERSON''S SKIN, SAID SPREADER PART BEING OF SUBSTANTIAL WIDTH AND OF A LENGTH AT LEAST AS LONG AS THE LENGTH OF THE PART OF SAID EDGE PORTION PROVIDED WITH SAID ELONGATED MEANS SO THAT AS THE DEVICE IS DRAWN OVER A PERSON''S SKIN, THE DEPILATORY CREAM DEPOSITED ON SUCH SKIN JUST IN FRONT OF SAID SPREADER PART IS SMOOTHLY REDISTRIBUTED ON THE SKIN BY THE SKIN ENGAGING SURFACE THEREOF AS AN EVEN LAYER WITH A MINIMUM OF RUBBING. 